When Arrested Development first came to TV in 2003, its witty, clever take on the wealthy Bluth family established quite a cult following. In the show’s first season, fans were introduced to never-nudes, banana stands, and mediocre magicians.
Although the show was canceled by FOX after its third season, it was revived by Netflix in 2013 for a fourth season, and then in 2018 for a fifth season. Known for creating some of the most intricate, lengthy running jokes in comedy history, Arrested Development gets better with multiple viewings. Whether verbal or visual, there’s always a new laugh to uncover each time you watch an episode. This list pulls together some of the gems lost in the first season’s sea of hilarity.
Spanish/English Dictionary
Michael and Gob both vie for the affections of Colombian actress Marta, and a spying game ensues. When they find out Marta is interested in “Hermano,” they believe she’s referring to a man named Hermano. It turns out these Bluth boys never paid attention in Spanish class, and they are unaware that “Hermano” translates to brother.
The show’s narrator explains this conundrum, employing a page from a fake Spanish/English dictionary. By the definition of “Hermano” is a picture of Michael and Gob donning mustaches. An added touch of humor can be found with the word above “Hermano,” “Hermafrodita.” Notice the resemblance between the person pictured next to the word and Tobias, Michael and Gob’s brother-in-law?
Blendin Electric Company
This recurring easter egg first appears in Season One, first with Blendin Mobile Pet Grooming and then with Blendin Electric Company.
It turns out this is the front used by authorities throughout the series to spy on the Bluth family. These secret surveillance operations seem to go undetected by the Bluths, as well as most fans. The identities of two agents are exposed in Season One: Agent Cummings and Agent Freeling. Can you spot the other Blendin fronts throughout the series?
“I Mean, It’s One Banana, Michael. How Much Could It Cost? 10 Dollars?”
Bluth matriarch Lucille spends her time drinking vodka martinis, infantilizing her youngest child Buster, and maintaining her posh lifestyle. Thanks to her husband’s wealth, this Southern California socialite is completely disconnected from reality.
This hilarious quote from Lucille demonstrates her lack of awareness when it comes to the price of everyday goods. It’s safe to assume it’s been a long time since Lucille intentionally stepped foot in a grocery store.
“That’s Why You Always Leave A Note.”
While a popular joke among long-term fans, this lesson instilled by George Bluth to his children - with the help of his old friend J Walter. Weatherman - should never be forgotten.
Weatherman, who has a propensity for losing arms, is called to George Bluth’s aid when young Michael, Gob, and Lindsay have problems leaving notes, yelling at each other, and keeping doors closed. When adult Michael fears his son George Michael is getting into drugs, he reaches out to Weatherman to teach his son a lesson. Through a series of twists, George Sr. turns the tides against his son again, employing Weatherman to teach Michael to stop trying to teach George Michael lessons.
Nurse Ratchet
When George Sr. fakes a heart attack in Season One in order to escape prosecution for his financial crimes, the nurse on call at the hospital is Nurse Ratchet.
Nurse Ratchet is an homage to Nurse Ratched, the evil head nurse from Ken Kesey’s book about mental health, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, which was also made into a groundbreaking film starring Jack Nicholson. Considering all of the Bluths seem a bit off their rockers, including a reference to Kesey’s work fits perfectly here. As the rhyme goes, “one flew east, one flew west, one flew over the cuckoo’s nest.”
The Church Of The Good Shepherd
Baaaa! Sheep play a major role in Season One of Arrested Development. From Buster’s sequence in the show’s opening title to The Church of the Good Shepherd, the show pulls off one of the most elaborate sheep jokes in history.
Michael Bluth first calls his staff at the “Bluth Company” sheep, and the joke escalates when Lucille’s housekeeper Lupe rents a bus from a local church called The Church Of The Good Shepherd for her family reunion. In Season Two, the church returns when George Michael and his girlfriend Ann (also known as Egg) almost marry there.
“Beads!” “Bees?!”
Gob Bluth is not the smartest crayon in the box. This wannabe magician is a constant disappointment to his family. When he makes fun of his sister Lindsay for starting what he hears as a “bees” business, he decides to sneak behind her back and start his own bees business.
It’s not bees Lindsay’s investing in, though, but beads. Poor Gob, in an effort to impress his imprisoned father, brings one of his bees with him in a jar on a visit. It doesn’t go very well, but this doesn’t stop Gob from starting the G.O.B. Bee Company in Season Four.
Mr. Bananagrabber
This is another one of Gob Bluth’s brilliant ideas. He comes up with this mascot for the Bluth family Banana Stand, where they sell frozen bananas dipped in chocolate.
Gob tells Michael he’s free to use his character, a banana-shaped figure who steals bananas from others. When Mr. Bananagrabber comes to life in a cartoon, stealing a banana from a frog, Gob has second thoughts about letting Michael have rights to the character. Mr. Bananagrabber, like many other jokes in the series, returns in Season Two and Season Four.
“Dad Likes Leather.”
One of the most extensive jokes throughout all five seasons of Arrested Development is related to the sexuality of Tobias Funke, Lindsay’s on-again/off-again husband and father to their daughter Maeby. This never-nude with acting ambitions often does and says things that make his family wonder if he really is attracted to women.
This doltish and goofy character is always last to figure things out, and when he tries to impress his daughter by dressing like a rude and crude motorcyclist, he skirts the line between out-of-touch dad and fetishist.
Hold On Surely Funke
Maeby Funke, raised by completely incompetent parents Lindsay and Tobias, is basically free to do whatever she wants, constantly hatching plans to make money. She develops an alter-ego, wheelchair-bound Surely Funke, in order to get payouts from her school. George Michael, her cousin, calls her out on this, but he gets wrapped up in the action, too
In the scene depicted above, George Michael and Maeby chat in a school hallway while a handmade poster in support of Surely Funke hangs on the wall behind them. Surely returns in Season Three when Maeby tries to win a beauty contest.
